On midnight October 21st Taylor Swift fans waited anxiously for the release of her newest album.

Midnights, “A collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams” is Swift’s first album ever recorded entirely with Jack Antonoff who has produced other works for her in the past.

This time, however, the process was different. Many note the new, moodier synth and inventive beat which Swift experimented with. The transition from Folklore and Evermore (the sister albums released in 2020) to Midnights was startling but revolutionary to her sound, re-establishing who she is as an artist.

Providing new insight on both the struggle and process experienced behind the scenes, there is visible growth in her discography. Past songs such as “Don’t Blame Me” from Reputation and “Love Story” from Fearless are willing people to understand how she feels, but in songs like “Mastermind” and “Midnight Rain” she explains those feelings and stating what she wants. In addition, “Anti-Hero” and “Bejeweled” address self worth. It’s apparent that she approaches these new songs from a matured and understanding stand point. This makes her new album one of reflection.

After the initial release of the first 13 songs, the 3 am version followed. These additional 7 songs are cautionary tales for listeners based on her personal experiences and lessons she believes are important for the audience growing with her to learn

Taylor Swift proves time and time again her talent as a musician. Most notably, her astounding songwriting ability. In my opinion, her storytelling is what captivates fans alongside the ever increasing quality of her vocals and how deeply emotion is displayed in the execution of her lyrics.

Within 24 hours of its release the album gained 172.4 million streams that broke the record for most-streamed album in a day. It’s safe to conclude Swift’s return was highly anticipated and very well received.